Cuban Communist Party Blocks Religious Procession Honoring Cuba’s Patron Saint

14ymedio, Havana, 1 September 2023 — On Thursday, Catholic priest Alberto Reyes accused the Communist Party of Esmeralda, a town in Camaguey province, of preventing a procession honoring the Virgin of Charity from taking place on the night of September 8. Without explanation, officials said the event must instead take place at 6:00 PM. “Under … Continue reading “Cuban Communist Party Blocks Religious Procession Honoring Cuba’s Patron Saint”

The Message of the Cuban Bishops Avoids Alluding to the Negotiation on Political Prisoners

14ymedio, Madrid, 28 April 2023 — The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Cuba (COCC) issued an official statement this Friday about the meeting they held two days ago with President Miguel Díaz-Canel and other senior officials of the country. In it, they did not allude to something that Ariel Suárez, secretary of the Episcopal Conference, … Continue reading “The Message of the Cuban Bishops Avoids Alluding to the Negotiation on Political Prisoners”

Cuba: ‘The Excessive Sentences for July 11th Protestors are an Injustice and They Must Be Reversed’

14ymedio, Reinaldo Escobar, Havana, 5 March 2022 — Since September 2019, Catholic priest Alberto Reyes Pías (born 1967) serves 10 towns in the municipality of Esmeralda, 120 kilometers from the provincial capital, Camagüey. Masses, baptisms, visiting the sick, and above all, listening to problems consumes part of his daily life. Furthermore, he is engaged in … Continue reading “Cuba: ‘The Excessive Sentences for July 11th Protestors are an Injustice and They Must Be Reversed’”

The Cuban Bishops Ask for a Dialogue Between Those Who Have ‘Differing Opinions’

14ymedio, Havana, 12 December 2020 — On Saturday, Cuba’s Catholic bishops published their traditional Christmas message which, this year, includes calls “for dialogue and negotiation between those who have different opinions,” a few words that arrive in the middle of a strong defamation campaign on the part of the government against its critics. “As pastors … Continue reading “The Cuban Bishops Ask for a Dialogue Between Those Who Have ‘Differing Opinions’”

The President of the Catholic Clergy Denounces the ‘Injustice’ of Dollarization

14ymedio, Havana, 7 November 2020 —  The Cuban Conference of the Clergy (Concur) points to the list of voices of the Catholic Church that have recently criticized the plight of the island. In a letter that circulated this Friday, its president and superior of the Daughters of Charity in Cuba, Sr. Nadieska Almeida Miguel, expresses her concern … Continue reading “The President of the Catholic Clergy Denounces the ‘Injustice’ of Dollarization”

The Head of the US Embassy in Havana Challenges the Regime With an Invitation to the Cuban People

Mike Hammer records a video message on the streets of Havana to get people to approach him. 14ymedio, Madrid, May 2, 2025 — “Hi I’m Mike Hammer, the head of mission of the United States Embassy in Cuba.” This is how the diplomat presents himself in a short video uploaded to the Facebook page of … Continue reading “The Head of the US Embassy in Havana Challenges the Regime With an Invitation to the Cuban People”

The Cuban Church Asks Spanish Catholics for Help in the Face of Difficulties on the Island

A campaign is launched to collect donations to “support priests and the religious” EFE/14ymedio, Madrid, 5 September 2024 — The power cuts and the shortage of fuel, medicines and other basic goods hinder the work of the Catholic Church in Cuba, according to the bishop of Holguín, Emilio Aranguren, who this Thursday asked for help … Continue reading “The Cuban Church Asks Spanish Catholics for Help in the Face of Difficulties on the Island”

‘Calling People to Pray in Parks is a Pre-Criminal Activity,’ According to the Cuban Authorities

 State Security summoned priest Kenny Fernández for his call for peace in Venezuela 14ymedio, Havana, 12 August 2024 — The call to pray for peace in Venezuela made by Cuban priest Kenny Fernández Delgado on August 2nd set State Security in motion within a few hours. This weekend, seven days after an official summoned him … Continue reading “‘Calling People to Pray in Parks is a Pre-Criminal Activity,’ According to the Cuban Authorities”

The Cuban Church Denounces at Least 50 Robberies in Catholic Temples Since March

Some 34 parishes and religious houses in the country have been affected by theft and vandalism 14ymedio, Havana, July 5, 2024 — In Cuba, at least 50 robberies have been recorded in 34 Catholic parishes and religious houses since March of last year, according to the Catholic news channel EWTN. The thieves, who often vandalize … Continue reading “The Cuban Church Denounces at Least 50 Robberies in Catholic Temples Since March”

The Pope Appoints Monsignor Antoine Camilleri As New Nuncio to Cuba

He replaces the archbishop of Telde, Giampiero Gloder, who became nuncio in Romania and Moldova. 14ymedio, Havana, 20 May 2024 — Bishop Antoine Camilleri, former undersecretary of the Vatican Section for Relations with States, has been appointed by Pope Francis as the new apostolic nuncio in Cuba. He replaces the archbishop of Telde, Giampiero Gloder, … Continue reading “The Pope Appoints Monsignor Antoine Camilleri As New Nuncio to Cuba”

The Bishop of Camagüey in Cuba Prohibits Ringing the Bells During Blackouts

This decision is attributed to the pressure on the Church from the Communist Party of Cuba to undermine the initiative of the priest of Esmeralda, Alberto Reyes. 14ymedio, Havana, 19 May 2024 — The bishop of Camagüey Wilfredo Willy Pino Estévez prohibited Father Alberto Reyes from continuing to ring the bells of the Esmeralda parish … Continue reading “The Bishop of Camagüey in Cuba Prohibits Ringing the Bells During Blackouts”

A Way of the Cross Marked by Emigration and Tensions with the Communist Party of Cuba

14ymedio, Juan Diego Rodríguez / Juan Izquierdo, Havana, 30 March 2024 — The most significant station of the Way of the Cross held in Old Havana this Friday, when dozens of Catholics took to the streets under the tense gaze of the Police, occurred on the block of the municipal committee of the Communist Party. … Continue reading “A Way of the Cross Marked by Emigration and Tensions with the Communist Party of Cuba”

‘Cachita’ Goes for a Walk Through Havana Under the Watchful Eye of the Political Police

14ymedio, Natalia López Moya, Havana | 8 September 2023 — With more needs but equal enthusiasm, Havana residents gathered this Friday at the Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre Church on the corner of Manrique and Salud, in Centro Habana. Inflation and mass exodus have marked the day dedicated to Cachita*, the Patroness Saint of … Continue reading “‘Cachita’ Goes for a Walk Through Havana Under the Watchful Eye of the Political Police”

‘I Do Not Rule Out an Uprising Against the Cuban Regime, But There Are Many Factors Against It’

14ymedio, Xavier Carbonell, Madrid, 22 April 2023 – On a visit to Madrid, a Catholic priest from Camagüey, Alberto Reyes, talks about Cuba as an island out of time. “There’s no present and no future there”, he says, “only the lethargy of continuity”. The most obvious symptom: the ‘re-election’ of Miguel Díaz-Canel, a decisive bet … Continue reading “‘I Do Not Rule Out an Uprising Against the Cuban Regime, But There Are Many Factors Against It’”

Cuban Nuns Producing Communion Hosts Again with Support from Overseas

14ymedio, Havana, 16 November 2022 — The Discalced Carmelite nuns of Havana, who make most of the communion hosts consumed by the Catholics on the island, announced Tuesday that they will resume production. In a previous statement the nuns expressed regret that the country-wide flour shortage prevented them from supplying Cuban dioceses with hosts as … Continue reading “Cuban Nuns Producing Communion Hosts Again with Support from Overseas”